Security fear for County Hospital after patient 'tried to escape through window' (From Hereford Times)

Security fear for County Hospital after patient 'tried to escape through window'

9:50am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Lydia Johnson

SECURITY at Hereford County Hospital has been called into question after a patient tried to escape through a window.

Nurses were needed to restrain the man, whom it is believed had previously been staying in the nearby Stonebow Unit, when he tried to leave Frome ward.

Norma Sydney, a retired journalist from Sutton St Nicholas, witnessed the incident while staying on the ward with a broken hip.

She said she feared for the safety of the nurses who were left to deal with the patient.

“There is definitely some security needed for the nurses and other hospital staff,” she said.

“I have nothing bad to say about the personal care I received – the staff really were excellent.

“However I was shocked when I asked one of the nurses where security was during the incident, and she laughed and said ‘we don’t have any’.”

In a statement, Wye Valley NHS Trust said health care staff undertake regular mandatory training, in line with national NHS policies and procedures, to effectively manage unacceptable behaviour in order to protect patients and staff.

Kate Nelmes, spokesman for the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust which
manages the Stonebow Unit, said it had not received a report of any incident of this nature.

“People with mental health problems do need to receive general healthcare and, while we support our colleagues in other facilities, our service users will only be accompanied to appointments if they are receiving care under the Mental Health Act,” she added.

“We are currently developing a psychiatric liaison service, which will provide assessment and support to those in the County and community hospitals who have mental health needs.”